Skala, Kefalonia

Skala is a picturesque village located in the municipality of Eleios-Pronnoi, some 39 km south from the island's main town of Argostoli and 14 km SE of Poros, in the south of Kefalonia, one of the Ionian Islands of Greece.

During the summer, Skala becomes a popular holiday destination and has a growing number of apartments, hotels, tavernas, bars and gift shops, together with the all year round supermarkets, bakery and pharmacy. There is also a cash point machine.

Skala's 'blue flag' beach is a three kilometre stretch of sand with a shingle foreshore with a backdrop of pine trees,the beach has a very steep entry into the sea,elderly or infirm will struggle to exit the sea.. Although the beach is equipped with umbrellas and sunbeds, there is still plenty of space to escape the crowds. There are watersports available for the energetic.

History

The current village was built in 1956 and replaces the old village which was levelled during a devastating earthquake on August 12^th 1953, killing 36 and injuring hundreds of villagers. The original village was located on the hill behind the present one, as many of the island's were, in order to avoid invasion from raiders and pirates during the previous centuries.The name 'Skala' originates from the Greek word for stairs. It was given this name because when it was in its original place, the houses seemed to ascend almost as though they were a set of stairs.

On the edge of the present village is the remains of a 3rd century Roman villa with some remarkably well preserved mosaics. Visitors can visit the site free of charge to see the mosaic flooring in three rooms, which were excavated in 1957.

Three kilometres along the beach road towards Poros is the site of a 7th century Temple dedicated to the god Apollo. Here you can see the foundation stones and parts of three Doric columns

Agriculture

Skala was a farming community up until the onset of tourism 20 years ago. Most families had and still have fields or small holdings on which they grow summer and winter vegetables, together with their wine producing vineyards, and olive trees providing Greece's elixir of life, olive oil. Orange, lemon, walnut, almond and fig trees have been planted throughout the area.

Herds of goats, sheep and cows freely roam the hillsides around Skala. There is also one donkey remaining in Skala nicknamed, "George."

Multi coloured beehives can be seen dotted around the fields and hillsides, producing Kefalonia's delicious thyme flavoured honey.

Transport

Buses link Skala with the island's main town Argostoli, twice in the morning during the summer months - this reduces to a single service during the winter. Only one bus returns to Skala in the afternoon once the shops in Argostoli close at 2pm. There is also a bus connecting Skala to Poros.

External links

* [http://www.skala-kefalonia.gr/ Skala community (Elios-Pronnoi Municipality)] website #1]
* [http://www.kefalonia.gr/ Skala community (Elios-Pronnoi Municipality) website #2]
* [http://www.GoingGreek.info/ www.GoingGreek.info]